Strategic Spartanburg

The following Best Practice Strategies were provided by the Clemson Univeristy's Regional Economic Development Research Laboratory in the Department of Applied Economics and Statistics.

Programs to Encourage Voter Registration and Turnout
• Make registration and voting more convenient, for example, allow election day voter registration
• Public assistance offices could increase their efforts to sign up potential voters
• Open polls on weekend and for more hours to better accommodate people who work
• Permit voting by mail (absentee ballots) to be extended to individuals not away from the election district
• Extend election periods to include voting days before the official election day
• Investigate the potential for innovative voting procedures that would assist participation by the disabled or homebound (e.g., telephone voting or electronic balloting)

Programs to Encourage Greater Participation in Cultural Events
• Increase the availability of school-based and community-based arts education program.
• Revise programming to respond to a diverse range of values and tastes (in other words, broaden, diversify, and deepen the base of potential participants).
• Improve public awareness of cultural programs through marketing and outreach activities.
• Perform or offer programs in nontraditional venues so as to attract new and different audiences.
• Change perceptions/deconstruct predispositions of individuals disinclined to participate because they feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the work.

Programs to Encourage Charitable Giving
• Change tax laws to provide incentives for charitable giving (e.g., allow individuals who do not itemize their tax returns to take a deduction for charitable gifts).
• Increase public trust in charitable organizations by increasing the public accountability of the charities. Charitable organizations must continually strive to maintain the highest standards of stewardship. Government requirements of operational and financial information will be helpful to preserving the public trust.
• Encourage volunteerism among community businesses and residents. Volunteerism increases personal interest in an activity and leads to increased giving over time.